UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 F M S O Foreign Military Studies Office 731 McClellan Ave Fort Leavenworth, KS Latin America Military and 66027 Security Watch fmso- [email protected] Table of Contents Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement. MEXICO Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original MICHOACAN Series of Narco Blockades Implemented in Michoacan – 29 August copyright restrictions. 2011 Two Bodies with Narco Messages Recovered in Uruapan, Michoacan – This report is a compilation of 28 August 2011 extract translations of Spanish Narco Message and Bodies of Four Taxi Drivers Recovered in language open source Michoacan – 29 August 2011 information and not evaluated CHIHUAHUA intelligence. Multiple Narco Banners Directed to President Calderon Posted in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 29 August 2011 The complete articles in Soldiers Seize $(USD) 264,350 from Vehicle with U.S. Plates in Ciudad Spanish are available from Juarez, Chihuahua – 28 August 2011 FMSO. Soldiers Seize 792 Kilograms of Clorazepate Monopotassium Destined for the U.S. in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 28 August 2011 This briefing is FOUO and FEDERAL DISTRICT must be protected and Decapitated Body with Message Signed by La Mano con Ojos controlled in accordance with Recovered in the Federal District – 26 August 2011 U.S. standards. MEXICO STATE UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 1 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 Authorities Receive Unconfirmed Report of Clandestine Grave Containing the Bodies of 23 Police Officers in Zinacantepec, Mexico State – 27 August 2011 QUERETARO Authorities Seize Dozens of 200 Liter Barrels with Chemical Precursors in Palmillas, Queretaro – 26 August 2011 SINALOA Soldiers Dismantle Drug Warehouse in Cosala, Sinaloa – 28 August 2011 VERACRUZ Five Transit Police Arrested for Supporting Organized Crime Groups in Veracruz – 28 August 2011 Marines Arrest Three Individuals and Seize Weapons, Ammunition, and Vehicles in Tampico Alto, Veracruz – 28 August 2011 Soldiers Arrest Five Gunmen in Veracruz City, Veracruz – 21 August 2011 GUERRERO The Devil’s Command Responds to Message Sent by the Attorney General of Guerrero – 24 August 2011 Police Officer Hung from Pedestrian Bridge in Acapulco, Guerrero – 29 August 2011 Two Bodies Recovered from Clandestine Graves in Acapulco, Guerrero – 30 August 2011 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 MEXICO MICHOACAN Series of Narco Blockades Implemented in Michoacan – 29 August 2011 Between 27 and 30 August 2011, criminals implemented a series of narco blockades and set multiple vehicles on fire throughout Michoacan. Locations in which vehicles were set on fire were reported as follows: 27 August 2011: at least two tractor-trailers were set on fire at the Charo [16.881432,-99.882545] exit in Morelia 28 August 2011: at least two vehicles were set on fire at the entrance to Zitacuaro [19.448464,- 100.174713], in front of the Tecnologico Institute, along the XXI highway. 29 August 2011: two confrontations between federal police officers and groups of gunmen were reported in a neighborhood located near the Huetamo exit [18.635835,-100.901184], and at the federal police base near the Fierro Bridge in Zitacuaro. No casualties were reported in conjunction with these confrontations. Following these altercations, gunmen set two tractor- trailers on fire at the Zitacuaro/Toluca exit and two more west exit of Huetamo. Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/08/mas-narcobloqueos-en-michoacan.html, http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/08/otra-dia-de-narcobloqueos-en-michoacan.html Top of the Document Two Bodies with Narco Messages Recovered in Uruapan, Michoacan – 28 August 2011 On 25 August 2011 at approximately 0130 hours, the bodies of two male murder victims were recovered from the entrance of the Pomocuran firing range located along the Uruapan-Pracho highway in Uruapan [19.625126,-102.102814], Michoacan. One of the victims was identified as Mario Antonio Villagomez Ibarra, 32. He was UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 originally kidnapped on 29 July. At this point, the second victim has not yet been identified. A message left with the bodies read as follows: “Warning: this will happen to all the traitors that help people working for Chuy Mendez, Martin Rosales, Magana, aka El Terry or La Borre, Jose Maria Chavez, aka EL Pony, El Torito, and EL Bofo”. Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/08/narcomensajes-de-los-ejecutados-ayer-en.html Top of the Document Narco Message and Bodies of Four Taxi Drivers Recovered in Michoacan – 29 August 2011 On 28 August 2011, authorities recovered the bodies of four male taxi drivers from the interior of a taxi that was abandoned along the Brisenas-Zamora highway in the Ixtlan de los Hervores village [20.174567,-102.391205] of Michoacan. A message left with the bodies read as follows: “This will happen to all the taxi drivers that support kidnappers and robbers from Zamora”. The now deceased individuals were identified as: Francisco Menchaca Reteguin, 30 Jesus Menchaca Reteguin, 20 Daniel Torres Montes, 17 Jose de Jesus Jauregui Gonzalez, 25 Recovered from the area were at least 60 shell casings. Spanish Source: http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/08/ejecutan-cuatro-hombres-en- michoacan.html#more CHIHUAHUA Multiple Narco Banners Directed to President Calderon Posted in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 29 August 2011 On 29 August 2011, at least five banners with a message directed to President Felipe Calderon were posted in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Some of the areas where the banners were posted were reported as follows: In the Constitucion neighborhood [31.741015,-106.476746] UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 4 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 Next to a fire station located on Jose Mendez and Pascual Orozco Streets in the Corregidora neighborhood [31.722619,-106.485157] On a wall of the Francisco Villa School in the Division del Norte neighborhood [31.704511,- 106.446705] At the intersection of Chihuahua and Francisco I. Madero Streets [31.738825,-106.506615] In the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood [31.725101,-106.503696] Based on the picture above, the narco message read as follows: “Mr. President Calderon, stop supporting your buddy El Chapo Guzman. You very well know that he is responsible for the attack at the Corona Stadium in Torreon and for the massacre at the casino in Monterrey. They (The Sinaloa Cartel) want to do the same thing in Ciudad Juarez. They do that (the attacks) to heat up the plazas, and also, with your help, to gain control of them”. Comment: The banners in question were not signed by any particular criminal group; however, similar banners posted on 25 August 2011 in Ciudad Juarez were signed by La Linea. Spanish Sources: http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=279896, http://www.lapolaka.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&id=11834:mantomania- narcoterrorista Top of the Document Soldiers Seize $(USD) 264,350 from Vehicle with U.S. Plates in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 28 August 2011 On 27 August 2011, 5th Military Zone soldiers seized $(USD) 264,350 from the trunk of a taxi that was stopped at a checkpoint on the Cordova International Bridge (also known as Puente Libre) [31.764662,- 106.451511] in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The taxi from which the money was seized was reported as having US plates, and allegedly departed from El Paso, TX and was traveling to Ciudad Juarez. The driver of this vehicle was arrested; however, his name was not reported. Spanish Source: http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa/7288-a-28- de-agosto-de-2011-lomas-de-sotelo-df Top of the Document Soldiers Seize 792 Kilograms of Clorazepate Monopotassium Destined for the U.S. in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 28 August 2011 On 26 August 2011, 5th Military Zone soldiers conducting train inspections seized 792 kilograms of clorazepate monopotassium at the Ferroviaria Train Station in Ciudad Juarez [31.737511,-106.461639], UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 5 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 Chihuahua. The psychotropic substance had been hidden within a compartment underneath a train car. This shipment originated in Casa Colorada, Chihuahua, and was destined for the U.S. Spanish Source: http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-de-los- mandos-territoriales/7286-28-de-agosto-de-2011-ciudad-juarez-chih Top of the Document FEDERAL DISTRICT Decapitated Body with Message Signed by La Mano con Ojos Recovered in the Federal District – 26 August 2011 On 26 August 2011 at approximately 0700 hours, SSP officers recovered the body of a male decapitation victim on Vasco de Quiroga Street [19.495217,- 99.09344], near La Loma traffic circle, in the Santa Fe area of the Federal District. The victim was identified as Israel Medina Ruiz, 30. He was left half naked and with a message signed by La Mano con Ojos. The content of the message was not reported. Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/08/dejan-la-mano-con-ojos-decapitado-cerca.html Top of the Document MEXICO STATE Authorities Receive Unconfirmed Report of Clandestine Grave Containing the Bodies of 23 Police Officers in Zinacantepec, Mexico State – 27 August 2011 On 27 August 2011, authorities received a report regarding a clandestine grave near the Colegio Mexiquense (a college) [19.282831,- 99.763477] in Zinacantepec, Mexico State. It is estimated that the bodies of at least 23 federal and municipal police officers are contained within UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 6 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 31 August 2011 these graves, but at the moment, only three bodies have been excavated. Comment: The last incident in which bodies were recovered from clandestine graves in Mexico State occurred in September 2008 when authorities excavated the bodies of 24 decapitation victims in La Marquesa.